Machine for shearing sheet metal



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M-AI'QGHINB FOR SHEARING SHEET METAL. v

No. 260.779. v Patented July 1-1, 1882.

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MACHINE FOR SHEARING SHEET METAL. No. 260,779. Patented July 11, 1882.

H I 6 Sheets-Sheet. 3. G. H. PERKINS.

' MACHINE FOR SHEARING SHEET METEL. No, 260,779. PatentedJu1y1L1882;

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I G. JI-IQPBRKINS.

- v MACHINE FOR SHEARING SHEET METAL.

- No. 260,779. Patented July 11 1882 6 Sheets- -S'heet 5. v G. H. PERKINS. MACHINE FOR SHEARING SHEET METAL- Patented July 11 N, PETERS. Fhom-Lilhagmphgn Washinghm. D c

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G. H. PERKINS. MACHINE FOR SHEAR ING SHEET METAL.

No. 260,779.. Patented July 11, 1882.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE F O R SHEARING SHEET METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,779, dated July 11, 1882.

Application filed October 23, um.

To all whom it mayconcern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PERKINS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in. the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Machines'for Cutting, Shearing, or Trimming Sheet Metal, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention is an improvement upon the apparatus for cutting or shearing sheet metal which was invented by me and patented to me, as assignor to Le Comte 86 Perkins Manufacturiug Company, (limited,) in and by Letters- Patent No. 194,168, dated August 14, 1877. To the above-named Letters Patent reference is to be made fora thorough understanding of my present improvements, as the latter relate to and are connected with the principal instrumentalities of my former invention.

Myinvention relates to a class of devices which are employed to trim the edges of sheets of tinned iron and other sheet metal, and in which the trimming is accomplished in a right line, an edge strip being cut from the sheet in order to reduce its width or length, according to the position in which it is introduced into the machine. 7

My present invention embraces means for more accurately feeding or supplying the sheets to the cutting mechanism, for controlling and guiding the metal in such introductiou,for preventingits displacement from rectilinear position upon the feeding-chute, as well as for preventing the buckling of the sheet upon the chute. It also embraces improved means for disengaging the cut strip or scrap from the operative parts of the machine and for guiding'it to the scrap-heap.

In my former patented apparatus the principle of operation of trimming the sheet of metal is carried into effect by means of certain combined instrumentalities, which may be that sheets of metal fed upon the chute descend upon the drum beneath the point Where the apron first comes into tau gen tial contact there- 'with, so that the sheet is gripped between them and carried half-way around the drum in such mannerthat its edge, in the passage, comes be-' tween the cutting-edge on the bending-drum and the cutters which co-operate therewith and is cut off, the sheet so cut to the proper width bers of 'the apparatus exterior to said right-V hand side frame are removed, while the main Fig. 2.

chute and primary chute are represented in central sectional elevation. In this view the apparatus is represented at the moment when.

asheet of tin hasdescended from the primary chute intothe main chute and bet'orethe pushers have operated to force it through the sup-v plemental gate and 'into the embrace of the bending-drum and apron. Fig. 4 is a partial detail of certain of the parts represented in. Fig. 3, especially-illustrative of the operation. of the pushersand gates controlliugthe chutes, the various members of the apparatus being. represented at the moment when the pushers have advanced to project the sheet intothe embrace of the apron and bending-druimwhem the main gate has descended to close the pri-; mary chute and the supplemental gatehas. been elevated by the passage of the sheet;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus represented in the previous views, the parts being.

represented in thepositions which they occupy in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of my aforesaid apparatus-viewed from the left hand of Fig. 1, or viewed from that end of, 100 the apparatus atwhich, the feeding is effected. In this view the under side of the, primary" chute is exposed to view. Fig. 7 is a sectional,

view, looking down the main chute from the upper end thereof, section being taken transversely across the chute on the line a a of Fig. 3, and the parts being in the position which they occupy in said Fig. 3. In other words, this is a viewlooking under the main gateand down the bottom of the chute against the supplemental gate. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective, looking down the main chute from above the same and in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, representing in detail one of the ways upon the surface of thechut-e,the spring-plate which controls the adjustment of the sheet thereup0n,the supplemental gate, and the contrivances which actuate the spring-plate in its operation upon the sheet. Fig. 9 is a partial sectional and partial elevational detailed view taken length wise through the spring-controlled plunger ot' the spring-plate, representing in section the spring-plate and the right-hand side and bottom of the chute. Fig. 10 is aview in perspective of the bending-drum, shearingshaft and cutters, hold-down, strip guide-piece, and wiper in their assembled relation; and Fig. 11, a partial detail side elevational view of certain of the same parts, representing the operation of cutting a strip off the edge of the sheet.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the side frames of the machine, which are two parallel housings of suitable material suitably erected and united together by connectin g cross-bars B or other suitable means. These frames are of semicircular contour and cut out, preferably in V shape, from their upper edge down to an approximately central point, in order to afford a convenient central bearing, (J, for the shaft of the bending-drum D, which is placed horizontally between the side frames, as well represented in Figs. 3 and 6.

E E E are apron-rollers, likewise transversely and horizontally journaled between the side frames in such position and relation as to cause the endless apron F, which travels around them, to semi-encircle the bendingdrum and be stretched taut against it, as represented in Fig. 3. The two lower apron-rollers are adjustable to impart the requisite tension to the apron, as described in my former patent.

G, Figs. 3, 10, and 11, is the shearing-shaft, or the shaft which carries the circular cutters H, which register against the cutting-edge I of the bending-drum and occasion the shearing of the edge I" of the sheet metal, as represented in Fig. 11. This shaft is similarly transversely set through the frame-work, and is adjustable therein, in order to enable the setting of its cutters in suitable relation to the cutting-edge of the bending-drum. The relative positions and relationship of the bending-drum and the shearing-shaft are well represented in Figs.3, 10, and 11. J is the main or feedingchute, being an inclined platform erected at an angle of about forty-five degrees between the side frames of the machine, and having its lower or discharging end terminated upon the surface of the bending-drum at a point in advance of the point at which the apron encounters said bendingdrnm, as represented in Figs. 1,3, and 4. The chute is provided with sides K, which extend upwardly and backwardly beyond the receiving end L of the fioor of the chute proper.

All of the foregoing elements were embodied by me in my former invention, and are described and represented in my Letters Patent referred to. The several devices which, either separately or in combination with the elements just described, constitute the subject-matter of my presentinvention are those hereinafter described and claimed.

M is a primary chute, erected between the sides of the main chute at a point above the receiving end of the latter. It is designed to afford the first resting-place in the machine for the sheet to be sheared. This primary chute is controlled as to its discharging extremity by a main gate, N, supported transversely between the sides of the chute upon an axial rod, 0, which is actuated either to rise and permit the descent by gravity of the sheet onto the main chute, as represented in Fig. 3, or else to block the discharging end of the primary chute and retain the sheet thereupon by means of a rocking lever, P, linked by a link, Q, to a crank, R, affixed to the axial rod of the gate, (as best represented in Fig. 2,) and taking its vibratory movement from a cam, S, upon the shaft of the apron-roller E. This last-named cam is so timed as to operate the main gate intermittin gly, whereof hereinafter. The return of the main gate is effected by means of a coil-spring, T, operating upon the rocking lever above its fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 2.

U is a supplemental gate, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4., 5, 7, and 8, pivoted transversely across the main chute near the lower end thereof, its pivotal rod V being set in the lower extremity of the sides of the main chute. This gate is of such shape and dimensions as to block the discharging extremity of the main chute. The opening of this gate is effected by the descent of the sheet of tin underinfluence of the pushers, whereof hereinafter, its normal position being that represented in Fig. 3, or shut, and it being retained in its shut position through the instrumentality of the cam W upon the shaft of the apron-roller E, which is so set and timed as at predetermined intervals to bear against the lower extremity of a locking-lever, X, which is connected by means of the link Y with the gate-crank Z, as clearly represented in Fig. 3. This contrivance last described is designed to guard against the accidental discharge from the main chute of the sheet of metal should the latter in its descent against the supplemental gate overcome the counteracting tension of the spring a, Fig. 3, which controls the locking-lever X above its fulcrum and tends to retain the supplemental gate shut or closed down upon the chute.

The .cam Wis of course so timed as to move outof locking engagement with the rollerequipped lower extremity of the locking-lever X before the pushers hereinafter described operate to force the sheet of tin against and under the supplemental gate and into the embrace of the apron and bending-drum, no instrumentality opposing the lift of the gate after the movement of the cam W out of engagement with the locking 'lever, except the spring a, referred to, and the latter being of such tension as to yield and permit the deflection of the locking-lever and the consequent lift of the supplemental gate.

1) are what are termed pushers, one, two, or more of which may be employed, preferably, however, two. The office of these pushers is to push the sheet of tin, after its descent from the primary chute upon the main chute,- down through the supplemental gate andinto the embrace of the apron and bending-drum. A convenient construction of these pushers is that represented in Figs. 3,4,and 6. In brief, they consist each of a finger, c, an adjustable jaw, d, which has an endwise adj ustabilit-y with respect to the finger, and of a guard or cover,

0, likewise adjustable, ifdesired. The two fingersrepresented in the drawings are of similar construction.

fis arock-shaft, Figs. 1,2,3, 5, and 6,transvcrsely journaled between two parallel upwardly-extending standards, 9, erected from and being a part of the side frames. Between these standards, and key ed upon the rock-shaft,

' are a pair of arms, h, to the upper extremities of which the rear extremities of the pushers are pivoted.

It will be comprehendedthat upon the rockin g of the rock-shaft these arms will be rocked or vibrated and the pushers caused to travel continuously up and down the main chutethat is to say, from the position which they occupy in Fig. 3 to that which they occupy in Fig. 4, and then in the reverse direction.

Oscillation is imparted to the rock-shaft other cams in the machine as to cause the de-.

scent of the pushers immediately after the main gate has opened and the sheet of tin has descended from the primary onto thenmain chute.

Extending lengthwise of the floor of the main chute are two or more ways, m m, (represented. in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8,)upou which the. sheets of tin descend from. the primary chute and rest. The. fingers of the pushers travel upon the surface of the main chute ad:v

jacent to these; ways, as represented in'Figs. 3 and'7, and in such manner are enabled unerringly to pass beneath the sheet and insure the contact of the jaws of the pushers therewith. Y

The lower edge of the main gate is curved or bellied as to its central portion, so that its greatest depth is at the center, as is clearly represented in Fig. 7, the object of which construction is to occasion the curving, doubling, or buckling down ofthe central portion of the sheet by the gate as the latter closes upon the sheet before the latter is forced down the main chute by the advance of the pushers. The fact that the sheet rests upon the ways of the chute above the surface of its floor enables the curved gate to effect this buckling action, which is of service in stiffening the sheet and enabling it to withstand the pushing action. The main gate is vertically slotted at either extremity, as at a, Fig. 7, to enable the passage of the pushers through the main gate when closed and also enable their return. This slotted construction of the main gate is of course essential to the operation of the pushers, as it wouldbe manifestly impossible otherwise for the pushers to act upon the sheet of metal while the main gate held it down in a buckled condition, owing to the fact that the gate would block their pathway.

The lower edge of the main gate is also provided with a series of feet, 1, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, which insure the requisite pressure of the gate upon the sheet.

0 is a pressure-roller supported upon a swiveled frame, p, Figs], 2, 3, 4, and 5, the. ofiice of which is to press upon the sheet centrally. between the ways ,upon which it rests at its lower or forward portion in a manner kindred. to that in which the curved bottom of the main gate presses upon its upper portion, and there-= by to aid said gate in occasioniug the buckling of the sheet to stiffen it against the action of the pushers and enable its true direction upon the chute. v

The frame 19 is preferably mounted upon the shaft of the apron-roller E, and is controlled to occasion the constant pressure of the roller upon the sheet by the operation of a spring, v

q, connected with the front extremity of the frame on the one hand and the axial rod of the main gate or other fixed support on the other hand. a

s is a spring-plate secured to the inner face of. the righthand side of the chute, or that side which isnearest the eye in Fig. 1. plate, together with the mechanism which actuates it, is represented in detail in Figs. 5, 8, and 9. The object ot'the contrivance is to occasion the setting over of the sheet upon the main. chute against the opposite side of said'ch'ute, or that side which is nearest the eye in Fig. 2. In Fig. 8 is very clearly represented the operation of the spring-plate which accomplishes this result. The plate itself is secured at one extremity to the side of the chute, and it is 0p- This erated by the following devices: Erected from the rock-shaft f is a crank-arm, 2, Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, which is vibrated with the rock-shaft as the latter is caused to rock by its lever i under the influence of the cam j, as explained. The forward throw ofthis crank-arm occasions the downward and forward movement of the pro jeotor-arm u, the ottice of which is to deflect the hell-crank e, which operates the sprin g-plun ger to, which in turn operates the spring-plate s. (Bestrepresentedin FigsfiandS.) Thei'orward extremity of the projector-arm is provided with ashoulder, x, which is adapted in the forward thrust of said arm to encounter or engage against a cross-arm, 1 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) connecting two vertical standards,y' 3 forming part of the swiveled keeper y, up on the laterallyprojecting arm of the bellcrank, so that in the downward movement of the projector-arm the bell-crank is deflected in such manner as to force inward against the spring-plate the springplunger w.

z is a lifting stud on the under surface of the projector-arm at a point above the shoulder .23, which is adapted to encounter a fixed rest, a", Figs. 1 and 8,eonneeted with the chute, wherebythe projector-arm islifted and its shoulder w raised out of engagement with the swivcled keeper on the bell-crank, so that the further throw of the crank-arm t is without efiect upon the bell'crank. Upon the return of the projector-arm its shoulder a: re-en gages, by gravity, with the swiveled keeper, in readiness to effect the second movement of the spring plate upon the next actuation of the parts.

In practice the shoulder 00 upon the projector-arm may engage direct with the laterallyprojecting arm ofthe bell-crank, instead of with any part of the swiveled keeper, whereby strains upon the pivot of the latter are avoided, and its office becomes strictly that of a guard or keeper.

The plunger w is provided with a collar, b", and is surrounded by a spiral spring, 0", abutting between the collar and the depending sleeve 61*, which is connected with or a part of the downwardly-projecting arm of the bellcrank, through the medium of which the plunger is thrown in against the spring-plate. The intent of this construction is to enable the plunger to-be thrown in by the bell-crank, which operates upon the plunger through the resistance of the spring between the shoulder and sleeve, said resistance being sufficient to insure the movement of the spring-plate to such extent as will cause the placing of the sheet properly against the opposite side of the chute. After the plate has been forced over the further movement of the bell-crank is without influence upon the plunger, for the reason that such further forward movement simply compresses the spiral spring without moving the plunger, which is prevented from a further forward movement by the resistance of the sheet of tin against the spring-plate.

e" is a stop-bolt, Figs. 5 and 9, screwing through a portion of the side frame of the machine and operating to limit the return-throw of the plunger after its forward throw by the bell-crank. The return-throw is occasioned by the combined operation of the spring-plate s,

acting to return to a position parallel to the side of the chute to which it is attached, and of a compressed spiral, f abutted between the outer surface of the side of the chute and the side of the downwardlyprojecting arm of the bell-crank. The return of the crank-arm tis occasioned by the expansion of the spring 9", Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, which encircles the spring-rod h, pivoted to the frame, and abuts between a collaron'said rod and aswiveled stirrup or the like on the Crank-arm t. The above return is also aided by the contraction of the spring t", linked between a fixed cross-bar or other member of the frame-work and a setscrew on the rock-shaft arm, as well represented in Fig. 3.

j" is a hold-down or curved pressingarni affixed in such relation to the bendingdrum as to be in contact therewith at a point in proximity to its cutting-edge, and suitably supported from a cross-bar in the frame-work or kindred contrivance. Its oftice is to hold the tin which is bent around the bending-drum tightly against the latter immediately abreast the point at which the circular cutterof the shearing-shaft operates in combination with the cutting-edge of the drum. It further operates to prevent the sidewise movement of the apron,and thus prevents the possibility of the edge of the apron being cut by the cutters.

.k" is a guide'pieee applied in such relation to the cutting mechanism as to guide the cut strip or edge of metal l" outoi' contact with the endless apron and clear of the machine. The guide-piece is well represented in Figs. 3, 10, and 11. In Fig. ll the operation of cutting is clearly depicted, as is also the action of the hold-down and guide-piece.

m" is a wiper, Figs. 3 and 10, arranged in such relation to the cutting-edge of the bending-drum as to insure the wiping of said edge free from the slivers of tin made by the cutting devices.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an apparatus for trimming sheet metal, in combination with shearing mechanism adapted to cut a sheet of sheet metal to a uniform width, a chute provided with two gates, one in advance of the other, and designed respectively to control the introduction of the sheet upon the chute and its introduction to the shearing mechanism.

2. In a'machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with a main chute provided with raised ways upon which a sheet of metal is fed and travels, a main gate theloweredge of which is curved so as to adaptit, in combination withthe raised ways upon the chute, to buckle the sheet of tin, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with a chute provided with raised ways upon which a sheet of tin is fed and travels, a pressure-roller adapted to bear between said ways and curve or buckle the sheet, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination, a bending-drum provided with a cutting-edge, an endless apron traveling over said drum, the side of which apron is in proximity to the cutting-edge, a shearing-shaft provided with a cutter adapted to register against said cutting-edge, and a hold-down or kindred contrivance which both holds a sheet of metal bent between the drum and apron closely against the snrfaceof the drum and prevents the sidewise movement of the apron against the cutter, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with a main chute adapted to receive a sheet of metal to be'trimmed, and provided with pushers suitably operated to advance said sheet into contact with shearing mechanism, a spring-plate appliedto one side of said chute, and the plunger, bell-crank, projector-arm, and means for actuating said arm, whereby the spring-plate is operated synchronously with the pushers, so as to cause the setting over of the sheet true against the opposite side of the chute synchronously with its advance.

6. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with mechanism for trimming the edge of a sheet of tin or kindred sheet metal, a primary chute. adapted to receive the sheet to be trimmed, a gate for alternately closing said primary chute and opening it to permit of the escape, by gravity, of the sheet placed thereupon, a main chute so relatively placed with respect to the primary chute as to receive thesheet which descends by gravity from the latter, a supplemental gate controlling the main chute, pushers or equivalent means for forcing the sheet of tin down the main chute upon which it has been arrested by the supplemental gate, and into the shearing devices, and means for suitably operating the trimming mechanism, the main gate, and the pushers, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with a chute upon which the sheet to'be trimmed is finally delivered, and from whence it is fed to the shearing mechanism, pushers adapted at predetermined intervals and by suitable means to force the sheet down the chute, a spring-controlled arrestinggate, and means for locking said arrestinggate against the weight of the sheet to be trimmed as the latter descends upon the chute and prior to the time at which the pushers act to force it down the chute.

8. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, as a composite device for operatingthe springplate which adjusts the position of the sheet to be trimmed laterally upon the chute, the springcontrolled plunger, bell -crank, projector-arm, and means for actuating said arm.

9. In a machine for trimming sheet metal, in combination with a spring-plate which adjusts the position of the sheet upon the chute,

the plunger, the bell-crank connected therewith,and the plunger-encircling spiral spring, whereby the plunger is adapted to transmit the throw of the bell-crank to the spring-plate until the latter is stopped by the setting up of the sheet against the opposite'side of the chute, after which any further movement of the bellcrank is without influence upon the springplate by reason of the compression of the spring, substantially as Setforth.

10. In a machine for trimming sheetmetal, as a device for pushing the sheet down the chuteand into the shearing mechanism, the pushers hereinbefore described, consisting of longitudinally-extending fingers, in combination with adjustablejaws.

11. In a machine for trimming sheet metal,

incombination with the main gate, feet ap plied to the base thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

, GEORGE E. PERKINS. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, H. E. HINDMARSH. 

